Tie rod



Oct. 27, 1931. SNEED 1,829,306

TIE ROD Filed July 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 27, 1931. J. SNEED 1,829,306

TIE ROD Filed July 16, 1928 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 27, 1931. J SNEE D 1,829,306

' TIE ROD Filed July 16, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Get. 27, 1931 PATENT OFFICE J' SNEED,0F FEBNDALE, MICBEIGAN TIE Application filed July 16,

This invention relates to links or tie rods and a method of making them. The invention also relates to the arrangement of parts used in conjunction with the link by means of which its effective operative length may be adjusted.

It isamong the objects of my invention to form a link essentially of one piece of sheet stock. Another object is to form a link with integral portions at its ends which are ada t ed to retain parts through which the link may be connected to external agencies. A

further-object is to provide .parts associated with the linkwhichare universally movable with relation to the end of the link and which have parts for engaging external agencies whose effective centers may be changed without changing the relation of the parts engaged by the link. A further and more specific object is to provide a link which may be used as a tie rod between the swiveling wheels of a vehicle. Another object is'to connect the tie rod and the steering arms to permit universal movement and to permit adjust ment between the steering arms and without changing the actual length ofthe tie rod per se. Another object is to provide a method for forming thelink by asimple and economical process. A further object is to arrange bearing surfaces and a chamber for retaining lubricant for the connecting members at the ends of the link. My most comprehensive object is toprovide a link and method of making same which had the attributes of strength, tdurability, economy and neatness of appearance.

Other objects will appear from the following description of a preferred form of my i invention in which the article and the steps of a preferred method are described in detail. The precepts of my invention are equally applicable to such devices as drag links in the steerin mechanism and connecting links in shock a sorbers etc The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the embodiment of my linkas a tie rod between the steering arms of the swiveling wheels of a motor vehicle; Fig. 2 is a partially broken longitudinal section of. the ink and the as- BOD 1928. Serial No. 293,107.

sembl'ed parts at the end; Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one end of the link;

Fig. 5" illustrates the blank of sheet stock from which the body of the link may be formed; Fig. 6 is a artial longitudinal section of the female d ie used in the first step of the forming operation of the link' Fig. 7 1s a partial side elevation of one end of the link after the first forming step; Fig. 8 is a 60 top plan view of the piece in the same stage; Fig. 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 is a section taken through the end of the female die used in the second forming step; Fig. 11 is a section intended 65 to illustrate the relation of the piece and the several dies at the end of the second step showing an injecting and centering die -01 mandrel; and Fig. 12 illustrates in crosssectlon a tubular bearing or bushing prior to its insertion in the end of the link.

Referring to Fig. 1, I show the link or tie rod L joining steering arms 1 and 2. the usual practice the steering armsare carried by swiveling stub axles which pivot about inclined axes. As the wheels swivel. the end ofthe one of the steering arms falls while the end of'the other steering arm rises so that universal connections are desirable between the ends of the link and the steering arms. In the embodiment of my link as a tie rod for the front wheels of a motor vehicle, it is also desirable that the ends of the steering arms be moved toward or away from each other to align the wheels.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the link member L comprises a longitudinally extendin cylindrical portion 10 with integrally forme cupped ends 11 and 12. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the upper parts of the cupped ends 11 and 12 are hemispherically formed and merge into depending cylindrical parts of like radius. Generally speaking the end ortions 11 and 12 comprise sockets for hol g and permitting universal movement of connecting and adjusting members 13 and 14.

The axes of the cylindrical parts of the cupped ends preferably extend at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the link.

The intersections of the axes determine the centers of the hemi spherical parts of the which is held in a socket in the end portion of the link. 0 posite the ball end is a tapered shank 17 the axis of which is offset fromthe center of the ball. The ends of the steering arms 3 and 4 have conically formed seats into which the tapered shanks of the members 13 and 14 are secured by nuts 5 and 6 threaded on extensions of the members. The

ends of the threaded extensions may be slotted as at 7 and 81to be held against rotation: \I preferthat the ball parts ofAahe connect-- ing members 13 and 14 be carried by the link.

1 The principle of this phase of my invention or both of the shanks of the members 13 and desire to support the ball parts of the con I being that the offset shanks facilitate'adjustment while the ball 'parts permit universal movement between the link and the members between which it-serves.

' To move the ends of the steering arms 3 and 4 toward or away from each other, one

14 may be turned with relation to the ends of the steering arms and the arms will be moved by reasonof the eccentricity of the axes of the shanks with relation to the centers of the balls. Thus if the" offsets be an eighth of an inch er member, a gross over-all adjustment oFone-half inch may be obtained between the ends of the steering arms.

. In the preferred form of my invention I .necting members in an assembled socket between whjchjis incorporated a lubricating device and'chamber. In Figsl' 2 and 12 there is illustrated a tubular bushing for beari-n nrember 20 which has a concave sphericav surface 21 formin the upper part of the socket. The mem r 29 e'xtendsthrou h the cylindrical art of the end portion of t e I link with shou ders resting a ainst the ehe uppere ge v igihery of the aperture 116. t

the member is peaned over as at 22 and is thereby'permanently secured in the end of the The cylindrical walls 9 of the cupped end closely-fit and support the member. When-the member 20 is secured in the end of the link, the lower'lon 'tudinal' seam 40, see Fig. 4, and the joint 41m the cylindrical part of the cupped end are welded, as at 42, see also Figs. 2 an y After the members 20 are secured in the cupped ends, the ball "stud connecting members .13 and 14 are inserted so that the ballportions rest upon the surfaces. 21. Then a member 25 is inserted in the member 20 to engage the ballportion aion the surface 26 to complete the socket, see i 2. A short 35 coil spring 27 is compresse "between the forced into the chamber defined by the member 20. The member 25 has a central aperture in its bearing surface both for the admission of lubricant and for the admission of ,such means-as a drift pin for driving the shank of the ball stud into the conical seat in the end of thesteering arm. 1

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 to 11, I will briefly describe a preferred method of formin the link. The blank from which the link may be formed is illustrated in Fig. 5 and comprises a'longitudinally extending rectangular part 10a with substantially disclike ends 11a and 12a. The junction be tween the disc-like ends and the middle recdrawn to: a. semi-cy indrical section 106,

see'Fig- 9. The die 60 has at both ends a substantially hemispherical bottom 62 struck from a sphere whose center C lies coincident with the axis of the semi-cylindrical part 61 of the die. The Whole die may have an adjustable insert not shown so that the distance between centers C determines thedistance between which the center of the balls 15 will be spaced apart in the finished link. The parts of the die 60 di-1 rectly above the hemisphericahpart 62 are substantially cylindrical as at 63. The piece is drawn by a complementary male die not shown and is thus formed with cupped ends partially spherical .in form as at 126 and partially cylindrical in formas at12c.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11 the piece having been formed to the shape shown in Figs. to 9 is inverted with its open edge facing the die 70 and with the cupped end portions carried by retractable dies or mandrels 80.: The dies 80 may be resiliently or otherwise retractably supported and serve to spacethe end ortions and hold the walls thereof during t e last forming operation. A downwardly movin die 71 having a contour similar to the die 60 urges the piece downward into the die 7 O. In this operation the edges of the channel 100,'=see Fig. 9, are moved toward each other along the surface 72 of the die 70 into a cylindrical form illustrated at 10 in Figs'."2 and 3. During the same motion of the die,the parts 41a, see Figs. 5, 7, 9 and '11 are moved and drawn which is not shown of punching out openings 116 and 126 in the spheric l domed part of the end portions. As mentioned above and as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the joints 40 and 41 are welded as at 42 both for the purpose of filling the joint and of securing {Eek edges togetheradjacent the ends of the The assembly of the several parts has been described above and while I have described a preferred form of my invention, I do not care to be limited in its application particularly to a tie rod. Neither do I care to be limited particularly to the particular form of link described. For instance, I may use the link illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and while such a link would-lack the neatness of appearance and might lack strength for a given thickness of stock thatmy preferred link.has, still such a link is within the broad teaching of my invention and has itsutility. In describing a preferred form of the article and method of making it, I do not care to be limited by the particular description or 'in any manner. other than 'by the *claims appended hereto.

I claim 1. A link comprising a stamping pressed.

from one piece of sheet stock having cupped ends whose axes are parallel and an integrally formed longitudinally extending part joining said ends and extending at right angles to said axes.

2. A link pressed from a flat piece of sheet stock having a middle connecting part formed at least semi-cylindrical in crosssection and having at least one integrally formed cupped end disposed with its axis at right angles to said middle connecting part.

3. A link pressed from sheet stock having a generally cylindrical body and integrally formed cup shaped ends. the cup shaped ends each comprising a substantially spherical part whose center lies in the axis of the cylindrical body of the link and also comprising a substantially cylindrical part having the same radius as the radius of the spherical part with its axis including the center of the spherical part. o

4. A link having integrally formed cupped ends having apertures in the base portions of the cups and sleeves having restricted. neck portions disposed within and closely fitting said apertures.

5. A link pressed from sheet stock having a central tubular body portion with a longitudinally extending seam and having cupped end portions withuthe brims of the cups comprising coextensive parts of the stock adjacent said scam, the parts of the stock adjacent the seam being welded together at least near the brims of said cupped portions.

6. A link pressed from a stripof sheet at an angle to the axis of the body portion,

wherein the edges of'the body portion of the strip abut along a longitudinal seam throughout the body portion of the link and the edges of the end parts of the strip comprise the brims of the cupped ends of the link, the abutting edges of stock being welded together at least near the ends of the said body portion.

7. A link pressed from a strip of sheet stock having a body portion and integral cupped end portions whose axes extend at an angle to the axis of the body portion, wherein the edges. of the end parts of the strip comprise the brims of the cupped ends of the link and abut below and adjacent the said brims, the abutting edges of stock being welded together at least adjacent the brims of the cupped ends.

8. A link pressed from a strip of sheet stock having a tubular body portion and integral cupped end portions whose axes extend at an angle to the axis of the body portion, wherein the edges of the body portion of the strip abut along alongitudinal seam throughout the body portion of the link and the edges of the parts of the strips comprise the brims of the cupped ends of the link, the abutting edges of stock being welded together at least adjacent the brims of the cupped ends.

9. Alink comprising a hollow tubular body portion and integrally formed cup shaped ends whose axes extend at an angle to the axes of the body portion and whose bases lie beyond the longitudinal zone of the body por tion and whose brims lie beyond the body portion, the edges of the stock abutting throughout the body portion of the link to form a longitudinal seam and abutting adjacent the brims of the cupped ends and forming a continuation of said longitudinal seam, the said edges being welded together at least at the seam in the cupped end portions.

10. A link comprising at least a semi-cylindrical body portion and integrally formed cup shaped ends whose axes extend at an angle to the axes of the body portion and whose bases lie beyond the longitudinal zone of the body. portion, the edges of the stock abutting adjacent the brims of the cupped ends to form a seam and being welded together at the seam tinuation of said longitudinal seam, thesaid edges being welded together at least at the ends of the body portion and at the seam in the cupped end portions; v l2.'A link comprising a hollow tubular body portion and integrally formed cup shaped. ends whose axes extend at an angle 4 -to the axes of the body portion and'whose I bases lie beyond the longitudinal zone of the body portion and whose brims lie beyond the 1 body portion and define planes parallel to the 'axis'thereof; the edges of the stock abutting throughout the body portion of the link to form a longitudinal seam and the edges of y the stock also abuttin adjacent the brims of the cupped ends and orming a continuation of said longitudinal seam, the said edges being welded together at least at the ends of the body portion and at the seam in the cup-. ped end portions.

I y In testimony whereof, I hereunto a'flix my signature.

a JOHN SNEEDQ 

